Hydraulic Fracturing - Key Resources and Reports

A drill rig at a drill pad in the Fayetteville Shale gas play. The drill rig is used to drill the vertical and directional wells prior to the hydraulic fracturing process.

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The widespread use of high-volume, slick-water horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a relatively new technological process for oil and gas extraction. More research and long-term assessment is needed to fully understand the impacts of the processes involved in fracking. This list resources is not intended to be comprehensive and will be updated on occasion.

The FracTracker Alliance (FracTracker.org) is a nonprofit organization that, in partnership with other groups, collects oil and gas industry data and shares it with the general public through mapping tools, visualizations and the interpretation of data. Use the FracMapper to find unconventional oil and gas wells near you.

The New York Times' "Drilling Down" series examines the risks of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and the attempt to regulate it, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania.

The Shale Gas Review is the blog of Tom Wilber, long-time journalist and author, who concentrates his efforts on the nitty gritty of shale-gas development in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays. Wilber’s well-received book on fracking is entitled, Under the Surface.

SkyTruth (skytruth.org) is a nonprofit organization that uses remote sensing and digital mapping to "create stunning images that expose the landscape disruption and habitat degradation caused by mining, oil and gas drilling, deforestation, fishing and other human activities."

State Impact Pennsylvania is a NPR member station reporting project, which has conducted extensive investigation into fracking-related issues in the Marcellus Shale region including excellent coverage of the relatively unpublicized – yet extremely important – topic of toxic fracking wastewater handling and deep injection well disposal.

Environmental and Public Health Organizations

Chefs for the Marcellus: a group of chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, brewers, vintners, and other food professionals formed to protect the foodshed against fracking

Earthworks: an organization that seeks to protect communities and the environment from mining and energy development

Why did oil and gas giant Apache Corporation celebrate their monumental frack job in one case and downplay it in another? In a word: water (and a lot of it). Check out our excellent infographic on hydraulic fracturing's problematic thirst.